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Iroshizuku And Sailor... Why Are They So Expensive?


GabrielleDuVent

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I'm playing around with inks, and I'm trying to figure out why Iroshizuku and Sailor are always priced the highest in most retailers I see. Does anyone know why? Guerlain's lipsticks have powdered rubies in them (I kid you not), so I can see why the're 30, 40 euros a pop. Do Iroshizuku and Sailor have similar properties? Or maybe a millennium warranty?

 

I just can't think of any reason why. I really want to try them out, but the price tags are scaring me off! Windsor & Newton's paints are fairly pricey, but the colour-fastness shows that it's priced quite aptly. Do those aforementioned inks have similar traits?

Tes rires retroussés comme à son bord la rose,


Effacent mon dépit de ta métamorphose;


Tu t'éveilles, alors le rêve est oublié.



-Jean Cocteau, from Plaint-Chant, 1923

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it may have something to do with the economics of production.

they might be popular but their scale of production might still be very small in comparison to say montblanc or waterman.

higher are production levels, cheaper the raw materials (as you can negotiate better with your supplier)

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I've tried both sailor and Iroshizuku inks now, and I will say that one will leave you awe struck while the other will leave you cold and confused...

 

Sailor inks I found were quite boring for my taste, and ink properties are not the most favorable for my use...

However the Iroshizuku (I took a dive and just bought two bottles to try them out) Oh boy was I not disappointed!

I would highly recommend Tsuki-Yo as your first ink to try...very unique dark blue, much more interesting than a blue-black. The colour is interesting enough to keep you on your toes but subtle enough that it could be used anywhere without fatiguing your eyes. It shifts slightly from being blue-turquoise-navy all competing for your attention in the most mannered fashion.

 

 

I think that's what makes iroshizuku inks so desirable, that there are some colours that are just so unique compared to others out there, but still usable!

Edited by Mkim
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In Indonesia Sailor Jentle ink is $13.20 (50ml), which is slightly cheaper than MB ink.

For sale: M625 red/silver, P395 gold, Delta Fellini.

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it may have something to do with the economics of production.

they might be popular but their scale of production might still be very small in comparison to say montblanc or waterman.

higher are production levels, cheaper the raw materials (as you can negotiate better with your supplier)

 

Alternately, they could just be taking the mick!

Long reign the House of Belmont.

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Sailor is MUCH cheaper here in the US than Iroshizuku. I love all the Iros and Sailors I've tried.

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Not only are the colors of Iroshizuku inks pleasing, they are well-behaved in most (all?) pens I've tried with them. Not too wet, not too dry, well-saturated, some with terrific shading properties.

 

So..to answer the question, the Iroshizuku inks have a reputation of being high-quality. Some of that reputation is to "blame" for the cost. Also, the bottles for the Iroshizuku inks are heavier and more unique than a generic bottle and they are well-packaged - their added cost of goods must also be responsible for some of the expense to the end-user.

pentulant [adjective]: immodest or wanton in search of all things related to pens<BR> [proper noun]: Christine Witt Visit Pentulant<br>

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I can't justify the $35 a bottle cost (here in the states) for the Iroshizuku. The ink isn't spectacular enough for me to spend that kind of money on it. It's all marketing I'd bet, the theory being that a higher cost ink must be better quality which might motivate some people to buy it. I still stand by Montblanc, it's my latest go-to ink. I wonder what goes into the production of those inks…? Maybe that has something to do with the cost.

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Sailor's Jentle Ink is priced in the "standart" range. When you say expensive, I guess you're talking about the Sailor nano-inks.

Same happens with the Iroshizuku. PIlot has an "standart" ink (be it Pilot or Namiki bottles), and the Iroshizuku (higher quality).

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I wonder if it is a marketing strategy as well? I'm not saying that both inks are not worth the price, especially given some of Iroshizuku's eye-catching colors. But think about it, it is not uncommon for a parent company (say Pilot) to offer products at different price points. Unfortunately, many people equate price with quality. Sometimes it's true sometimes not. You have to do your homework.

 

It is analogous to asking why Montblanc is more expensive than many other pens. Is it heritage, quality or brand recognition? Could it be a combination of all? At the end of the day a product's price is the cost of materials plus manufacturing/marketing plus profit. Profit is the premium the consumer is willing to pay.

 

So, a more concise answer. They are worth what we are willing to pay. Don't get me wrong, this is not an anti-capitalism diatribe at all. Just thoughts on economics as related to consumer goods. Personally, I like Iroshizuku and am willing to pay for certain ones that I think are interesting. I don't have much experience with Sailor. I doubt Pilot or Sailor uses a drastically different process or formulation, but they may have produced a product that stands out from others. Hence the premium.

"If you laugh, you think, and you cry, that's a full day. That's a heck of a day. You do that seven days a week, you're going to have something special."-Jim Valvano

 

"Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the Marines don't have that problem."-Ronald Reagan

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Thanks to everyone who responded so quickly! The reason I asked was because I can't really try the inks without purchasing the bottles at the moment. Some brands do make the reasons clear; a gold-plated nib would be worth more than a steel, just from the production cost (and Guerlain with their powder-ruby).

 

Since quite a few seem to appreciate the quality of Iroshizuku despite the cost, I think I may try it out. Any ink suggestions? I like blues, blacks, and pinks... I really am scared of blue-blacks, due to the frequent use of iron gall. I know I can look at the samples at Goulet, but things like drying time, flow, and wetness really don't translate with images.

 

Thanks in advance!

Tes rires retroussés comme à son bord la rose,


Effacent mon dépit de ta métamorphose;


Tu t'éveilles, alors le rêve est oublié.



-Jean Cocteau, from Plaint-Chant, 1923

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I was searching for a great yellow-orange ink, and someone recommended Iroshizuku Yu-yake. I'd stipulated that the inks would have to be locally available (I'm not the type to buy stuff online), so I had to give up on a lot of excellent inks, Iroshizuku being one of them, much to my dismay. Scans make the ink out to be a subtle but striking orange colour, much reminiscent of the sunset it's named after.

 

I'll also second the recommendation for Tsuki-yo, as well as add one for Asa-gao, which I personally love.

 

Cheers, and good luck!

"The price of an object should not only be what you had to pay for it, but also what you've had to sacrifice in order to obtain it." - <i>The Wisdom of The Internet</i><p class='bbc_center'><center><img src="http://i59.tinypic.com/jr4g43.jpg"/></center>

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I can't justify the $35 a bottle cost (here in the states) for the Iroshizuku. The ink isn't spectacular enough for me to spend that kind of money on it. It's all marketing I'd bet, the theory being that a higher cost ink must be better quality which might motivate some people to buy it. I still stand by Montblanc, it's my latest go-to ink. I wonder what goes into the production of those inks…? Maybe that has something to do with the cost.

 

Definitely don't pay $35--you can buy Iroshizuku inks at $28/bottle at, for example, isellpens.com and gouletpens.com . Still pricey, but less so than the sources you've found so far.

 

best wishes,

eo

Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.

The important thing is not to stop questioning. --Albert Einstein

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I've heard that these inks are not so expensive in Japan.

 

Yes. I was able to get Iroshizukus super cheap there. ~$15-16

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Yes. I was able to get Iroshizukus super cheap there. ~$15-16

 

I can get them from Japan, but compounding the shipping will probably jack up the price. Almost all Japanese stationeries are double the price here, probably due to customs and shipping. And returning there at the moment is out of question (too scared of radiation poisoning).

 

I might get momiji or cosmos. Might add a Pilot pen to my accumulation, to see how it writes... or get another Lamy.

Tes rires retroussés comme à son bord la rose,


Effacent mon dépit de ta métamorphose;


Tu t'éveilles, alors le rêve est oublié.



-Jean Cocteau, from Plaint-Chant, 1923

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Oh momiji is quite beautiful too.

Although it is a bit more orange then red unlike what most online images suggests.

 

On thinner nibs it might look a bit more red I think. But on a Pelikan M nib it is most definitely a dominant orange than red.

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Thanks to everyone who responded so quickly! The reason I asked was because I can't really try the inks without purchasing the bottles at the moment. Some brands do make the reasons clear; a gold-plated nib would be worth more than a steel, just from the production cost (and Guerlain with their powder-ruby).

 

Since quite a few seem to appreciate the quality of Iroshizuku despite the cost, I think I may try it out. Any ink suggestions? I like blues, blacks, and pinks... I really am scared of blue-blacks, due to the frequent use of iron gall. I know I can look at the samples at Goulet, but things like drying time, flow, and wetness really don't translate with images.

 

Thanks in advance!

I knew I should have mentioned gold nibs (not necessarily gold-plated) versus SS. Of course my explanation assumed comparing apples to apples. There are many manufacturers that produce gold nib pens with resin (aka plastic) bodies at a lower price point. MB was for illustrative purposes only, not a knock on the brand.

 

As for which ink to chose, the ink review forum provides a great deal of the information you seek. It is an invaluable resource for me.

"If you laugh, you think, and you cry, that's a full day. That's a heck of a day. You do that seven days a week, you're going to have something special."-Jim Valvano

 

"Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the Marines don't have that problem."-Ronald Reagan

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It's the same story with Edelstein inks. I bought some here in Paris last week for around 12 USD (approximate conversion from the Euro price). I understand that they go for close to double that price in the US.

 

I suspect the heavy bottle and packaging have something to do with the big price differentials between home markets and abroad for Iro and Edelstein inks.

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I believe another way to frame the question is: "why are people willing to pay (considerably) more for Iroshizuku and Sailor?"

 

While I can hardly make any claim to what "people" are willing to pay, I found that I was willing to pay the premium for one Iroshizuku for which there was no near equivalent in other lines. I am happy with my purchase.

 

For the terminally curious, I sprung for Iroshizuku Ina-Ho, and the collective jury is definitely out on that one - at least as opinion differs on the desirability of the color. Oddly, I bought a sample of Iroshizuku Yu-Yake and decided to spring instead for full bottle of Sailor Apricot. As part of the "standard" Sailor line (I suppose), the Apricot rang in at US $12.50, which I would not class as "expensive" for a bottle of ink. Subjectively speaking, the Sailor performed at least equal to the Iroshizuku in the pens I tested, and I prefer the color of the Sailor Apricot over the Yu-Yake.

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